Improvement in fire-escapes



J P R' JAMES. 2Sheets-Sh ee1. Fire Escape. 2

No. 202,263. Patented WITNESS S INVENTOR JonjAlQR -g I V v ATTORNEYS 2sheetssheet 2.

J. P. R. JAMES.

Fire Escape.

No. 202,263. Patented Apr 'i l 9, 1878.

IN Jas mrz V ENTOR JEL 7n ed:

WITNESSES ATTORN EYS N PE ERS PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER WASH hGTONL u C UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. R. JAMES, OF PEPEST, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK H. BERNARD,OF OHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN.

IM PROVEM ENT IN Fl RE-E SCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,263, dated April 9,1878; application filed August 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jos. P. R. JAMES, of Pepin, in the county ofWabasha, and in the State of Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire-Escape and do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof an extension fire-ladder, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which-Figure l is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, and Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed views of partsthereof.

A A represent the axles, provided with wheels B on their ends. On theaxle A is pivoted a head-block, O, to which are secured two parallelbeams,'D D, connected at their outer ends by a round, and provided intheir under edges with series of notches a a to look over the axle A, soas to bring the two axles at any desired distance from each other,according to the angle the ladder is to be raised.

To the beams D D, near the head-blocks O, is pivoted a frame, E, to theupper frame or round of which is hinged the ladder G. This ladder isfurther braced by means of two arms or braces, H H, pivoted to the sidesof the ladder and to the axle A.

The side pieces of the ladder Gare provided on the inside withdovetailed grooves, in which slides another ladder, G, as shown in Fig.3. This auxiliary or extension ladder G is operated by means of a cordor rope, I),

- passing to a Windlass, I, in the frame E, and

it is held at any height desired by a dog or pawl, d, taking into aratchet on the windlass. J is an arm or lever pivoted to one of the armsH, for holding down the beams D when placed on the axle A.

K is a shaft having its hearings in the frame E, and provided at itsends With brakeblocks L, to hold the wagon steady and prevent itsmoving.

M M are posts or braces flexibly connected to the upper end of theladder G, and .used for supporting the same when the ladder is raised,the lower end of the ladder resting on the ground when raised to itshighest point. The lower end of the ladder has on one side a notch, m,which is to allow the lever J to extend into and help to keep the ladderin its proper position.

Both the ladders G and G are provided at their sides with railingscomposed of posts h and cables 73, as shown, and at the upper end of theladder G are pivoted hooks M M to catch on the window-sill and hold theladder. These hooks are raised by means of a cord, n, when desired tocast off the ladder.

When it is too hot to descend on the ladder, a closed car, 0, is used,which may be raised and lowered by a rope connected with a Windlass, P,substantially as shown.

Ris a lever for guiding the machine in going to and from a fire.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the axles A A and wheels B, the bars D D,notched, as seen ata, a, to fit over the axle A, frame E, arms H H, andladders G G, all constructed substantially as and for the purposesherein set forth.

2. The lever or arm J, in combination with the arm H, ladder G, and axleA, as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The combination of the extensible ladders G G, constructed asdescribed, and pro- .vided with notch .90 on one side at the bottom, theaxles A A, notched bars D D, hinged frame E, cord 1), Windlass I, arms HH, and pivoted lever J, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this7th day of August, 1877.

JOSEPH P. R. JAMES. Witnesses:

W. O. PIERS, J OHN ANDERSON.

